Society Events

Framing Cabochons and Stones

A workshop for the Bead Society of Great Britain by Liz Thornton

Maidstone Museum, Friday 2 July 2020

In this workshop, Liz will teach how to create a 3-dimensional framework to surround cabochons and stones.

There will be detailed instructions for framing 18mm round, 25mm x 18mm oval and 22mm square lucite cabochons.

There will also be general instructions for framing irregularly shaped stones. Participants are encouraged to bring along stones they have collected over the years, but not known what to do with them once home!

The main technique used for the framework is Right Angle Weave and a good understanding of the stitch is essential for this course.

Materials required

I suggest 1 each of 18mm round, 25mm x 18mm oval and 22mm square lucite cabochons. However, you may choose to do only one shape, if you prefer, or you might make a combination of two or even three of the shapes. Or you might like to do several of the same shape. For example, a framed oval or square makes an attractive pendant; several round cabochons can be stitched together to make a bracelet; two rounds and an oval can become the centrepiece of a necklace.

A stone or semi precious cabochon with an irregular shape,

with maximum thickness of 5mm (anything thicker than this, and you will struggle).

size 11 seed beads

size 15 seed beads

cylinder beads

beading thread

usual beading tool kit

UPDATE

AGM Weekend

2nd-3rd July 2021

Maidstone Museum, Kent

We have had to change the dates as the museum no longer opens on Sundays.

Liz's class will now be on Friday.

If you would like to book a place on Liz's workshop PLEASE let Carole know ASAP.

Email bead.society@ntlworld.com

Our 2021 AGM will be held at the Maidstone Museum, which was established in 1858, and with more than 600,000 artefacts and specimens, it represents one of the best and largest collections in the south east outside of London. It has been compared to a small Victoria & Albert Museum, British Museum, and Natural History Museum all rolled into one, right at the heart of the Garden of England!

The museum has various collections – Ancient Egyptian, Archaeological, Costumes & Textiles, Ethnography, Natural History & Biology, Geology, Fine & Decorative Arts, aswell as Local History, and we hope to be able to ‘see behind the scenes’ with Sam Harris in the afternoon.

One of the highlights of our visit will be to see the 17th century beadwork basket, given to the museum by Lady Cornwallis, which has a figure similar to one on the Holburne Museum basket we saw in Bath back in 2014.

Please bring any beads or bead-related items, recently-acquired or otherwise, for display on our usual ‘Bring & Show’ tables.

The approximate timetable (as usual) will be as follows:

•10.30–11.00 Arrive at the Museum, chat. Set up ‘Bring & Show’ items. Tea/Coffee etc

•11.00–12.30 AGM & ‘Show and Tell’

•12.30–2.00 Lunch

•2.00–4.30 We will be able to look at items on display and examine beads and beadwork from the Museum’s reserve collections shown to us by Sam Harris.